Best Tecovas Boots of 2025 To Add To Your Wardrobe Now

Not everyone needs cowboy boots. The iconic Western style of footwear has been a part of America’s story since the Spanish brought horses to North America in the 1500s, and was later refined into the style we know and love today after the Civil War. Cowboy boots might be pretty as hell, but they’re built for practical purposes—riding horses and working on ranches. 

I live in a mountain town and rarely ride a horse or mend a fence, but cowboy boots have been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. Some of my earliest childhood photos have me in a pair of red, pointed-toe boots that wore daily until I outgrew them. If I were into self-reflection, I’d wonder if I’ve just been trying to replace those boots ever since.

That quest has led me in recent years to Tecovas, an upstart brand out of Austin, Texas, that has been going toe-to-toe with heritage brands in the Western footwear space in terms of quality and price since launching in 2015. 

I’ve spent the last couple of months wearing half a dozen boots from Tecovas, interchanging different pairs for weeks on end to see how they fit and perform in real world scenarios. Did I actually ride a horse while wearing any of these boots? I did not. But I did wear them on a cattle farm, in freezing cold temps, while dancing, to parties, around town, walking the dog, chopping firewood…. A few specific styles rose to the top during that testing process. 

Here are my four favorite Tecovas boots.

Best Tecovas Boots at a Glance

• Best Tecovas Cowboy Boots: The Cartwright
• Best Tecovas Zippered Boots: The Dean
• Best Tecovas Roper Boots: The Knox
• Best Tecovas Work Boots: The LongHaul Square Toe

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Best Tecovas Boots of 2025

Best Tecovas Cowboy Boots: The Cartwright

A proper cowboy boot, the Cartwright is a high-end take on the timeless staple, and probably the prettiest boots I’ve ever worn.

How They Look Out of the Box

Handsome. Seriously, the Cartwright is a gorgeous pair of kicks, with a full 12-inch shaft that’s loaded with western stitching and a more modern round toe and tall heel that tell you these boots are made for the finer things. I chose a light-colored goat leather for the boot, which is matched with a leather sole and rubber heel cap.

How They Feel

Tecovas claims their cowboy boots are comfy right out of the box, and that’s almost true. The Cartwrights were surprisingly cozy when I first pulled them on, but I know that they’re not as comfortable as they will be after a few months of dedicated wear. Breaking in a pair of cowboy boots is a commitment, and as wearable as this pair is fresh out of the box, the goat leather shaft and multi-layer footbed will only get more pliable and soft with time. Also something to note: The 1.5-inch stack height of the heel takes some getting used to if you’ve never worn heels before.

How They Wear Over Time

I went with a light-colored goat leather, which doesn’t show as much stress as the darker-tanned goat leather, so these boots have continued to look fresh out of the box. But they get more comfortable with every wear, becoming easier to slip on and more enjoyable to wear over longer durations. I’m still at the beginning of the break-in process, but the footbed is becoming softer and the leather shaft is getting more pliable and better conforming to my foot. I’m excited to see how these boots feel several months down the road.

Final Verdict

I originally thought these boots were going to be too pretty for me to wear, but I keep finding reasons to pull them on. They have become a staple on date night excursions with my wife, and I’m planning to wear these to a wedding next month. They are comfortable, they are gorgeous, and with the 1.5-inch heel, they make me 6’5”, so that’s cool too.

Best Tecovas Zippered Boots: The Dean

The Dean is a low-profile zip boot designed to be worn daily.

How They Look Out of the Box

If there is such a thing as a modern cowboy boot, the Dean is it, with a slim profile and understated stitching that screams quality without being audacious. I love the versatility of this boot, which can be dressed up with slacks for date night, or worn with your favorite pair of jeans on a bar crawl. The shaft has a slimmer profile, so you can wear these boots with just about any cut of pants (maybe not joggers).

How They Feel

I chose the goat leather upper (you can go with a cowhide if you like), which has an immediately supple feel to it that just gets more buttery with every use. The footbed on the other hand, is stiff, and the 1.25-inch heel adds some height, which could be an adjustment if you’re not familiar with cowboy boots. The leather soles will also take some getting used to, as they don’t have the grip of rubber. Don’t get me wrong, they’re way more comfortable than some of the heritage-brand boots I’ve had in the past, but with quality leather, you need to spend time breaking it in properly, wearing a boot like the Dean in small blocks of time for several days or even weeks before committing to it as your all-day every-day boot.

How They Wear Over Time

Goat leather is quick to patina, and the Dean’s upper starts to show stress immediately. But with leather of this quality, stress just makes the boot look even better, and I enjoyed watching the character of the Dean transform over time. These are the sort of boots that get better with age, and I like the Dean more every time I wear them, because the goat leather gets softer and the leather outsole gets more nimble. I know at some point, the Dean will be the most comfortable boot in my closet.

Final Verdict

The Dean has become my favorite boot of the bunch, partly because the low-cut, zipper style lends itself to daily wear, but mostly because they’re stylish without begging for attention. If you’re looking for a proper cowboy boot, but don’t want to commit to a full-length shaft or overt western styling, the Dean is the boot for you.

Best Tecovas Roper Boots: The Knox

The Knox is a roper-style work boot, with a no-frills cowhide upper and a Vibram footbed built for comfort.

How They Look Out of the Box

In a word: New. The cowhide upper has an almost rubber, Wellington, look to it that might turn off true ranch hands. The roper-style boot is a more layman take on the cowboy boot, without the Western stitching you find in some other styles, and I appreciate that low-key look. I ordered the darker Briar color, which contrasts sharply with the white Vibram footbed. I dig the style, but choosing the lighter-colored leather would minimize this contrast if it’s a concern.

How They Feel

This is the most comfortable cowboy boot I’ve ever worn, and it’s not even close. Cowboy boots typically take a while to break in, but the Knox is built for daily wear right out of the gate. That cowhide upper has plenty of stretch, and the plush footbed, with a shock-absorbing insole, is good to go from the first step you take. They’re also easy to pull on and off out of the box, which is not the case for a lot of cowboy boots.

How They Wear Overtime

While many of Tecovas’ boots show wear in a good way, the Knox continues to look new after several weeks of use. The smooth, supple cowhide upper seems to resist creasing, and the uppers are easy to wipe clean after a day of work. The white outsole doesn’t stay white for long, which is fine by me as it reduces that sharp contrast between the upper and the sole.

Final Verdict

The Knox is the boot you want if comfort is your primary concern. It’s also a great option if you’re cowboy-boot curious without wanting to fully commit to the style. The Vibram outsole and plush footbed make the Knox easy to wear in a variety of situations, almost like a gateway to the cowboy style. I’ve worn them while chopping wood and hauling debris from a recent storm and I completely forgot I was wearing cowboy boots—that’s the highest compliment I can give.

Best Tecovas Work Boots: The LongHaul Square Toe

One of Tecovas’ newest releases, the LongHaul is a waterproof, square-toe work boot built for the toughest jobs.

How They Look Out Of The Box

Burly. The LongHaul looks like a shit-kicker, with a wide toe box and a thick, heavy-lugged sole that means business. At the same time, these boots are borderline pretty with western stitching throughout the cowhide shaft.

How They Feel

Much like the Knox, the LongHaul is a comfortable boot right out of the box, although the it has a few features that make it a true workhorse, like a crush-proof composite toe, and a non-slip outsole that’s built to handle spills. It’s a boxy boot that runs a little big, and that composite toe creates a lot of room in the footbed, so consider sizing down a half-size. That protective toe is a handy feature, though, if you have a job where heavy objects could come into contact with your feet. I like the rings on the side of the boot, which make it easy to pull these boots on, and the rubber outsole has proven to be incredibly stable in a variety of situations.

How They Wear Over Time

The LongHaul has great out-of-the-box comfort, but this boot also gets better with every wear as the cowhide upper relaxes and becomes a little more user-friendly over time. I’ve only had these boots for a couple of weeks, but so far, the footbed is as plush as it was on the first day.

Final Verdict

To be honest, the LongHaul is more boot than I need for the kind of “work” that I do. But if you have a job where toes could be crushed, or hell, if errant electrical charges are a thing (they meet ASTM standards for electrical protection), the LongHaul could be the daily driver for you. The cowhide is a little stiffer than the Knox, but the fact that this boot is waterproof makes it infinitely useful in a variety of scenarios. 

Why Should You Buy Tecovas Boots?

If you’ve ever typed “cowboy boots” into a search engine, then chances are your social media algorithm has been feeding you slick shots and sponsored ads from Tecovas featuring professional bull riders and ranch hands alike. While I’m typically skeptical of slick online marketing, I’ve had enough experience with Tecovas to know that they make high-end footwear, using the same premium materials and practices that have become synonymous with good boots for decades.

The majority of Tecovas boots are made from rich cowhide or goat leather (or ostrich if that’s your bag) and are Goodyear-welted, which essentially means the boot and sole are hand-crafted as separate entities, so when the sole wears thin, you can replace it. Goodyear-welt construction also means the boot-maker can add a layer of cork to the footbed, which molds to your specific footprint over time, giving you a one-of-a-kind custom fit that you won’t find in other shoes. In other words, when cheaper boots are wearing out, Tecovas boots are just hitting their stride.

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